SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Alejandro Garcia-Reidy, Syracuse University assistant professor of Spanish, has discovered a manuscript of a 400-year-old play by Felix Lope de Vega y Carpio in Spain. The 17th century playwright was popular in Europe, eclipsing Shakespeare, during that time, said the SU scholar. The play, a comedy, is titled "Mujeres y criados" ("Women and Servants").

"I know this is a once in a lifetime achievement, and fate or fortune play a large part in life's work and research," said Garcia-Reidy of his discovery.

Garcia-Reidy, who is an expert in the works of Lope, was doing research in 2010 in the Spanish National Library in Madrid when he found a reference to the play, which was thought to be lost. He continued to do more research which lead to the manuscript in the Spanish National Library. Garcia-Reidy studied the manuscript and text. "That's when I realized it was an authentic and lost play by the 17th century playwright," he said moments before an on-air interview with the Spanish National Radio in Madrid. He spent most of Wednesday giving live interviews on Spanish radio or speaking with reporters at Spanish newspapers.

The scholar explained the 1631 manuscript is a copy that was purchased by the theater company that performed the play. "So there was no way to know it was really written by the 17th century playwright. It was cataloged as an anonymous play in the Spanish National Library, and no one had connected all the information to this cover."

He said the manuscript is in good condition, with some damage because of humidity. But, he said, the text is readable and no part has been lost. "Mujeres y criados" was written between 1613 and 1614, said the scholar.

Garcia-Reidy's research has been published this month in Revista de Literatura, a journal of the Spanish National Research Council. He explained the three-year lag is the period of time it can take for science and the academy to publish one's research.
In the future, Garcia-Reidy believes the Spanish National Library may digitize the manuscript, making it available online to the public.

A staged reading of "Mujeres y criados" by the Fundacion Siglo de Oro (RAKATa) theater company is being planned in the spring at the Spanish National Library. A theatrical performance will be presented sometime this year. Garcia-Reidy's transcription of the text will be used for all modern performances of this Lope comedy.

"Mujeres y criados," set in Madrid, involves the romantic escapades of two sisters and their secret lovers. Everyone's life is complicated when wealthy suitors appear and mistaken identities occur. Garcia-Reidy said the play is about 2 hours long.